Intra-abdominal pressures during activity in women using an intra-vaginal pressure transducer

Abstract

Strenuous physical activity has been linked to pelvic floor disorders in women. Using a novel wireless intra-vaginal pressure transducer, intra-abdominal pressure was measured during diverse activities in a laboratory. Fifty-seven women performed a prescribed protocol using the intra-vaginal pressure transducer. We calculated maximal, area under the curve and first moment of the area intra-abdominal pressure for each activity. Planned comparisons of pressure were made between levels of walking and cycling and between activities with reported high pressure in the literature. Findings indicate variability in intra-abdominal pressure amongst individuals doing the same activity, especially in activities that required regulation of effort. There were statistically significant differences in maximal pressure between levels of walking, cycling and high pressure activities. Results for area under the curve and first moment of the area were not always consistent with maximal pressure. Coughing had the highest maximal pressure, but had lower area under the curve and first moment of the area compared to most activities. Our data reflect novel findings of maximal, area under the curve and first moment of the area measures of intra-abdominal pressure, which may have clinical relevance for how physical activity relates to pelvic floor dysfunction.

Effects of walking speeds and carrying techniques on intra-abdominal pressure in women

“…Data from the WIVT was found to correlate well with the simultaneous measurement of a rectal balloon catheter for coughing and Valsalva maneuvers in a clinical laboratory setting [8]. Using the WIVT, we recently monitored IAP in 57 women during standardized exercise sessions to describe maximal IAP, area under the curve, and first moment of the area of IAP during 31 activities performed in an exercise science laboratory [9]. Although this study provided the basis for wirelessly monitoring IAP, the base station transceiver required a laptop limiting the range of activity to within a 5 meter radius.…”

Intra-abdominal pressure during Pilates: unlikely to cause pelvic floor harm

“…Using the average and standard deviation of sit-to-stand mean max values from a previous study [20], we determined that a discernible difference of 10 cm H 2 O could be detected in 20 people with 2-sided tests, assuming α = 0.05 and power of 80%.…”

“…Our group also recently recorded IAP in 57 women during a standard exercise session which included sit-to-stand activity and found that this produced a moderate increase in IAP with significant variability [20]. …”

Acute effect of resistance exercise performed at different intensities on urine loss in older women

“…According to Shaw et al [4], the intra-abdominal pressure rises with increasing intensity of the activity; for example, walking at an inclination of 7% results in an intra-abdominal pressure of 35 cm H 2 O compared with 66.5 cm H 2 O for running and 41.6 cm H 2 O for cycling. In this case, strenuous exercise can lead to overload and weakening of the pelvic floor muscles [3], as well as muscle fatigue immediately after the activity [6].…”

“…This fact might be explained by pelvic floor muscle weakness in situations of increased intra-abdominal pressure [3]. Furthermore, Shaw et al [4] reported a progressive increase in intra-abdominal pressure with more intense exercises. According to Da Roza [5], this type of exercise requires an increase in the contraction strength of the pelvic floor muscles to close the urogenital hiatus and to maintain urinary continence.…”